Manileños rant about pretty much everything – their housing costs, their schedules, the girl next door, the traffic, you name it. But when it comes to food, they do not back down. Best eating city in the country? Manila! No question about it. Do not even get them started.

What makes a city a truly great eating city is when it is home to food you just cannot get elsewhere.

Some people still go to places where everything tastes generic from eat all you can places for less than P100 to blah Italian pasta joints (like Sbarro - euw) Well, some places still make these foods right, but they are so few and far between that the city’s food critics pounce on them and next thing you know you are waiting in line 30 minutes for a tiny cupcake or box of Krispy kreme.

Satti is one of the city’s most popular delicacies. It is reminiscent of the Malaysian and Indonesian Satay that comprise of skewered meat (usually beef, chicken, and chicken liver) grilled and eaten with a variation of dips. The Satti found in Zamboanga is unique, however, because the meat is served with sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaves in a bowl full of flavorful, spicy, orange sauce.

I remember my first encounter with the dish when I was in grade school. During recess, one of my classmates dared me to order Satti. At first, I was a little hesitant to try it because I wasn’t so fond of spicy food then. My friend was able to convince me to try it, though, and together, we braved eating the spicy dish. Even though our heads steamed and our tongues burned as we spooned mouthfuls of rice, meat, and sauce, we loved the dish. Since then, I included Satti in my repertoire of favorite meals.